SHOWCASE-Soccer-Red card for Liverpool's Mane divides pundits

LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Sadio Mane's red card in the first half of Liverpool's 5-0 defeat by Manchester City on Saturday divided observers and pundits even from the same family, with former Manchester United defenders Gary and Phil Neville disagreeing.

Mane caught City goalkeeper Ederson on the jaw with a high foot as he chased a through ball.

"Rubbish decision to send off Mane. Rubbish," tweeted BBC football presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker. Gary Neville, who was in the commentary box for Sky Sports immediately criticised the referee. "Jon Moss, you have just ruined the game there. He didn't need to give a red card. He could have given a yellow.

"I think he's got it wrong. His eyes are on the ball, it's ridiculous. He wins that challenge, the goal is there for him."

"Red card has spoilt this game -- but that's not Jon Moss fault -- his position was fantastic to see the challenge and show red card," he added later.

Gary Neville also found a dissenting voice in fellow Sky pundit Jamie Carragher.

"He had his eyes on the ball but that doesn't mean he isn't endangering his opponent," the former Liverpool defender said, referring to the law which reads "a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent... must be sanctioned as serious foul play." Unsurprisingly, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp was aggrieved by the decision.

"(The foot) was not that high," he said. "The goalie came more in his (Mane's) direction. In my opinion it was not a red card."

Klopp appeared to attract some sympathy from City manager Pep Guardiola, whose team suffered from red cards to Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling in their previous two games.

"Mane didn't see him, he was looking at the ball but the impact was huge," Guardiola said.

"I didn't speak about the decision when we had Kyle Walker sent off so I will not now."

Senegal international Mane faces a three-match suspension from domestic games, although he will be available for Liverpool's Champions League tie at home to Sevilla on Wednesday. (Reporting by Steve Tongue; Editing by Clare Fallon)